Automatic tablet filler



May 28, 1963 Filed Dec. 5, 1959 FlCml P. ULICKY ETAL 3 Sheets-Sheet 1OO.++++++++ OOO-|+++- FOOO++++++ OOOOO+++++ OOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOQO0000000000 I? 4||IL l Ll 1|| I I A II I 3 2s 27 INVENTORS AUL ULICKYIZENJA M IN A-KSIONZAK May 28, 1963 P. ULICKY ETAL 3,091,067

AUTOMATIC TABLET FILLER Filed Dec. 5, 1959 3 SheetsSheet 2 /33 23 IWumucxmucmuuunumufilfl A5 FIG.3

I4 1 I I6 q [:1 LL [1 [I j E|\27 2 /U H 1 I28 I FIG 2 INVENTORS PAULULICKY BY BENJAMIN A. KSIONZAK May 28, 1963 P. ULICKY ETAL AUTOMATICTABLET FILLER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 3, 1959 VIA/A VA.

INVENTORS PAUL ULICKY y BENJAMIN A. KSIONZAK United States Patent Office3,331,057 Patented May 28, 1963 3,091,067 AUTOMATIC TABLET FILLER PaulUlicky and Benjamin A. Ksionzak, Kenmore, N.Y., assignors toStrong-Cobb-Arner Co. Inc., Buffalo, N.Y., a corporation of New YorkFiled Dec. 3, 1959, Ser. No. 857,203 4 Claims. (Cl. 53-244) Thisinvention relates to an apparatus for inserting a predetermined numberof objects into suitable containers, and particularly to an apparatusfor filling a predetermined number of medicinal tables into a container,such as a bottle.

In the packaging of medicinal tablets, one of the steps in the procedureis to segregate the desired number of tablets from a bulk quantity andto insert these into a suitable container, such as a glass bottle.Hitherto in the art, complex machines have been made which perform thisstep. One method is to provide a circular table with a plurality ofholes and rotate the table over the containers dropping the tabletstherein. Such machines are complex and the operator cannot tell thebeginning of the cycle of filling and thus a new cycle may begin tooverflow the bottles.

An object of this invention is to provide a means of filling suitablecontainers with a predetermined number of tablets.

Another object of this invention is to provide a means of fillingsuitable containers with a predetermined number of tablets which isautomatic.

Still another object of this invention is to accurately fill a containerwith a pre-determined number of tablets and move said container to thenext step.

Further objects and features of the invention will become apparent toone skilled in the art from a reading of the following description inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a front view of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a partial side view illustrating the operation of thisinvention.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the hopper showing a form ofmodification.

With reference to FIGURES 1, 2, and 3, legs 11 sup- 1 port angle irons12. Angle irons 12 form a bed or support for conveyer belt 13 as bestshown in FIGURE 3. Conveyer belt 13, actuated by any suitable powermeans, carries suitable containers 16 to and from the apparatus. Guiderails 15, supported by supports 14, guide and hold containers 16. Guiderails 15 may be adjustable up and down supports 14 to accommodatediflerent size containers. Stops 27 allow a predetermined number ofbottles to stop under filling tubes 21. Stops 27 may be of theconventional solenoid actuated type and also may be adjustable fordifferent size containers.

Supports 18 hold hopper 20 and tray guideway 32 in place. Angle iron 17is fastened to hopper 20 and is provided with holes to accommodateadjustable screws and nuts 19. Thus the height of the hopper above tray23 may be varied.

Tray guideway 32 may be formed of angle iron. Glass, or any othersuitable material, plate 22 is fastened to tray guideway and forms atable under hopper 20. Perforated tray 23 rests on glass plate 22 and isslidable along plate 22.

Perforations or holes 33 in perforated tray 23 are formed in equallyspaced rows. The number of holes in a row parallel to guideway 32determine the number of tablets which will fill container 16. Thus, if arow parallel to guideway 32 contains holes, 30 tablets will fillcontainer 16. The size and number of holes 33 will accommodate any sizeof number of tablets which container 16 is to hold. The number of holesperpendicular to guideway 32 will determine the number of containers 16to be filled with one operation.

Air cylinders 24 are mounted on the outside of tray guideways 32 byangle irons and bolts 26. The rods of air cylinders 24 are positioned toextend in the direction of the conveyer belt and containers. Bar 29 isconnected between air cylinders 24 and fastened to perforated tray 23.Air cylinders 24 are controlled by the control 28 conveniently mountedon angle iron 12.

Air cylinders 24 move perforated tray 23 laterally over plate 22 andunder hopper 20. Filling tubes 21, formed from metal tubing or anysuitable tubing, are mounted over conveyor belt 13 in such a manner toallow a tablet to drop into container 16. The top of filling tubes 21are flush with plate 22.

FIGURES l, 2, and 3 best illustrate the operation on the apparatus. Whena sufiicient number of bottles 16 collect on conveyor belt 13, anoperator actuates solenoid stops 27. Stops 27 allow the correct numberof containers 16 to be carried by conveyer belt 13 into a position suchthat all containers are directly under their re spective filling tubes21. At this point in the cycle, the tray is in a forward position. Whenthe containers are in their respective positions, the operator actuatesstops 27 which prevent the exit of containers 16 from the fillingstation or the entry of additional containers to the filling station.

The operator then actuates air cylinders 24 by control 28. Air cylinders24 pull connecting bar 29 back, and hence, tray 23 follows. As tray 23passes under hopper 20, tablets fall onto tray 23 and into perforationsor holes 33. Holes 33 are just large and deep enough to hold one tablet.The height of hopper 20 may be adjusted by adjustable screw 19 so as toprevent any tablets from escaping the hopper unless they are in holes33.

Plate 22 prevents tablets from falling to the floor. As the tray is inits backmost position, the operator again actuates air cylinders 24which move the tray slowly to the front of the machine carrying tabletsforward. As each hole 33 of tray 23 passes from the end of plate 22 tofilling tubes 21, the tablets drop through filling tubes 21 intocontainers 16.

When tray 23 reaches its initial starting position, containers 16contain a predetermined number of tablets corresponding to the number ofholes 33 which pass over filling tubes 21. The number of filling tubes21 corresponds to the number of containers 16 filled in one cycle. Theoperator now stops tray 23 by control 28 which stops air cylinders 24.The operator actuates stops 27 allowing the filled containers to becarried to the next station and empty containers 16 to enter the fillingstation. The cycle is now complete and ready to begin again.

FIGURE 4 shows a modification of the present invention. Hopper 20 may beprovided with counter-rotating brushes 31 which are driven by a suitablemeans such as gears 30. Counter-rotating brushes 31 are desirable whenused with uncoated tablets to help the tablets into holes 33 and preventthe escape of tablets from hopper 20 unless they are properly in holes33.

It is to be understood that the present invention may be fullyautomatic, thus eliminating the operator. In such a modificationsolenoid stops 27 and air cylinder control 28 could be controlled by anysuitable automatic timing device. With such an automatic apparatus, trayguideway 32 could be extended and another filling station complete withfilling tubes 21, conveyer belt 13, and guideways 15 added. Thus, thepresent invention would provide a predetermined number of tablets tofill a suitfor conveying containers to and from said apparatus; a

plate secured to said frame above said conveyer system, a perforatedtray slidably resting on said plate, a hopper secured to said frameabove said perforated tray, and power means comprising air cylinders forsliding said tray back and forth on said plate in a direction transverseto said conveyer system.

2. In a counting and packaging apparatus for tablets and the likeincluding a frame and a conveyer system for conveying containers to andfrom said apparatus; a plate secured to said frame above said conveyersystem, a perforated tray slidably resting on said plate, a hoppersecured to said frame above said perforated tray, and power means forsliding said perforated tray back and forth on said plate in a directiontransverse to said conveyer system; said hopper having counter-rotatingbrushes therein, said counter-rotating brushes preventing said tabletsfrom leaving said hopper unless said tablets are within the perforationsof said perforated tray.

3. A counting and packaging apparatus for dispensing a predeterminednumber of tablets into each of a predetermined number of containers,said apparatus comprising a frame, a conveyer system for said containersincluding a conveyer belt, guide rails, and stops, a plate mounted onsaid frame above said conveyer system, a perforated tray slidablyresting on said plate having a predetermined number of holes therein,each being adapted to contain and convey a single tablet, an adjustablehopper secured to said'frame above said perforated tray and an aircylinder for sliding said tray back and :forth along said plate in adirection transverse to said conveyer belt; I

4. A counting and packaging apparatus for dispensing a predeterminednumber of tablets into each of a predetermined number of containersincluding a conveyer systemfor said containers, a plate, a perforatedtray slidably resting on said plate, a plurality of filling tubesmounted at one end of said plate above said conveyer system, a hopper,and power means, said conveyer system allowing a predetermined number ofcontainers to stop under said filling tubes, said perforated tray havingholes for containing and conveying a predetermined number of tabletsfrom said hopper to said filling tubes, said plate retaining the tabletsin said holes, said filling tubes allowing the tablets to drop into saidcontainers, said power means comprising an air cylinder for sliding saidtray back and forth on said plate in a direction transverse to saidconveyer system.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,476,274 Weber et alQ Dec. 4, 1923 2,307,415 Malhiot Jan. 5, 19432,483,207 Joseph Sept. 27, 1949 2,509,069 Mrachek May 23, 1950 2,941,341Clinton June 21, 1960

1. IN A COUNTING AND PACKAGING APPARATUS FOR TABLETS AND THE LIKEINCLUDING A FRAME AND A CONVEYOR SYSTEM FOR CONVEYING CONTAINERS TO ANDFROM SAID APPARATUS; A PLATE SECURED TO SAID FRAME ABOVE SAID CONVEYERSYSTEM, A PERFORATED TRAY SLIDABLY RESTING ON SAID PLATE, A HOPPERSECURED TO SAID FRAME ABOVE SAID PERFORATED TRAY, AND POWER MEANSCOMPRISING AIR CYLINDERS FOR SLIDING SAID